Dual tube float device

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises two V-shaped tubes held in a nested and tensioned relationship with each other such that the assembly is free of tensioning straps or rigid supports while easily maintaining its relative legs angled relationship effectively supporting in fishing activity in wave agitated lakes and bodies of water persons weighing up to and over 250 pounds.

[0001] This application is a continuation in part of application60/232506 filed Sep. 13, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to U-shaped and V-shaped inflatable floatdevices for humans engaged in fishing activities. The state of the artof float tube technology is well disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. D341866,5,217,400 and 5,171,178. The float tubes of those patents have a commoncomplexity that would be desirable to eliminate. None of the float tubeshave shaken free of the tensioning strap required for maintenance of theU-shape or V-shape disclosed therein as so necessary to effective use ofthe device. It appears that others have solved the tensioning problem byinserting a stiff support between the legs of the U-shaped devices tokeep the free ends of the U-shape from laterally drifting or being movedsubstantially out of their original relationship with the person sittingon the seat. The tension belt and rigid support are directed to thisproblem.

[0003] It is easily appreciated that wave action and turning actioninitiated by the user causes lateral drag on the leg extensions ofU-shaped and V-shaped float devices. The downward force of the user'sweight on the seat inevitably draws those legs laterally together. Waveaction on one side of one of the legs tends to cause it to be driventowards the other free leg, reducing the flotation stability of thedevice. A round float tube doesn't have these limitations, although theabove patents describe other problems that arise from their use.

[0004] There is a need for a float tube that preserves the open entry ofthe prior art U-shaped and V-shaped float tubes while eliminating thetensioning belts or rigid supports.

INVENTION SUMMARY

[0005] The present invention comprises two V-shaped tubes held in anested and tensioned relationship with each other such that the assemblyis free of tensioning straps or rigid supports while easily maintainingits relative legs angled relationship effectively supporting in fishingactivity in wave agitated lakes and bodies of water persons weighing upto and over 250 pounds.

[0006] The present invention nesting of its two tubes provides a verysignificant degree of safety for the fishing user. The relative nestingstructure and gas volumes of the two tubes makes it possible to have theouter tube punctured and deflated by a hook or other pointed objectwhile maintaining flotation for the fully equipped user. It has beenfound that the relatively equal gas volumes in the two tubes thatprovides such effective angled orientation support also providessurvival flotation for the user if one of the tubes is punctured.

[0007] The present invention further comprises several embodiments ofrelatively low above-water profile float devices such that wind blowingon a user in a body of water leaves the user relatively unmoved. It iswell known that wind drives in undesirable directions the users of floattubes in inflatable forms such as those with round tubes, V-shaped orU-shaped tubes or with two substantially parallel inflatable pontoons.The prior art above-water profiles of the inflatable float devicesdelivering acceptable above-water altitude for the user have been foundto have substantially identical above-water profiles that are easilywind driven. Replacing the single tubes of prior art inflatable floatdevices with two tubes of substantially the same diameter withsubstantially the same gas volume as the single inflatable tube of priorart float devices substantially reduces the above water profile of thefloat tube while maintaining substantially the same altitude for theuser. The prior art shows that in order to provide enough flotation in asubstantially round cross section float tube for a fully equippedfisherman, a relatively large diameter tube must be provided. Theinvention devices obtain by their construction with a fabric covering oftwo adjacent tubes an inherent increased stability and weightedresistance to tipping and wind forces. It will be appreciated with thisdisclosure that in one embodiment of the invention, round adjacent tubesare held together and surrounded with a water permeable fabric coverwhereby pressing the lower side of the float tube in water causes waterto soak through the fabric to fill the generally triangular crosssection space formed by the inner surface of the fabric and the lowernon-contacting arcs of the adjacent tubes. Attempting to quickly movethe invention float tube will be resisted by the weight of the waterheld in that space that does not quickly drain through the fabric cover.Thus, wave and wind action is resisted by the inertia of the retainedwater in that space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIGS. 1 and 2 are top and side views of a V-shaped prior artdevice of the inventor requiring a tensioning strap.

[0009]FIG. 3 is an above water line profile of the FIG. 2 device.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a side view of the invention V-shaped float tube havingtwo tensioned and nested tubes contained in a fabric covering.

[0011]FIG. 5 is an above water line profile of the FIG. 4 device.

[0012]FIG. 6 is a top view of the invention device.

[0013]FIG. 7 is a top view of the invention device without is fabriccovering showing the nesting of the inflatable tubes.

[0014]FIG. 8 is cross section I of FIG. 6.

[0015]FIG. 9 is cross section II of FIG. 6.

[0016]FIG. 10 is a top view of an invention low profile float devicewith two pontoons.

[0017]FIG. 11 is a top view of an invention low profile round floatdevice.

[0018]FIG. 12 is an alternate cross section I of FIG. 6 without thefabric covering to show a continuous joining of the two inflatable tubesof FIG. 7.

[0019]FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 are respectively the devices of FIGS. 6, 10and 11 showing a similar cross section III.

[0020]FIGS. 16 and 17 are cross sections III demonstrating deflectionresistance of the dual tubes having tensioning abutment where weight isapplied to the invention devices to be floated.

[0021]FIG. 18 is an alternate embodiment of cross section I of FIG. 6with invention tensioning without the necessity of a fabric covering.

[0022]FIGS. 19 and 20 are side and top views of an invention embodimenthaving a wind break and back support.

[0023]FIG. 21 is section IV of FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The invention is now discussed with reference to the Figures.

[0025] FIGS. 1-3 show a prior art V-shaped float tube. FIG. 1 and 2shows that a tensioning strap is an absolute requirement of the device.It was unknown in the prior art that this strap could be eliminatedwhile retaining the same or superior free leg form retention of theinvention V-shaped device. FIG. 1 shows an angle 1 wherein the generalbisected V-shape angle 1 equals about 20 degrees. The prior art teachesthe use of a single inflatable tube beneath a fabric covering, wherebythe fabric covering acts as a support for the tensioning strap. FIG. 2shows the outline of a user a DESIRABLE ELEVATION above a WATER LEVEL.Maintaining the desirable elevation for the user with the open entry ofa V-shaped or U-shaped device is one of the reasons the V-shaped andU-shaped float devices are highly preferred currently. An inventiondevice preferably maintains these objects.

[0026]FIG. 3 shows the above water line side profile of the prior artdevice of FIG. 3. It is a significant portion of the total windaffectable profile of a user. A significant reduction in this profilehas been found to dramatically reduce wind driving of the user to anundesirable location or direction.

[0027]FIG. 4 shows a side view of an invention embodiment float device100. Device 100 comprises a preferably water permeable fabric coveringholding together in a tensioned relationship two inflatable tubes in aV-shape having free legs 100 and a back supportable portion 103 atvertex 102 while maintaining desirable elevation 104 as in FIG. 2. FIG.5 is shown as the above water line side profile of device 100 and suchprofile is in proportion to the profile of FIG. 3, whereby a reductionby about more than 30% is achieved. It has been found that thisreduction achieves the desired reduction in wind driving of the user toan undesirable location or direction while maintaining identical orbetter desirable elevation and a front entry advantage of a V-shapeddevice.

[0028]FIG. 6 shows the V-shape of device 100 having a bisected angle100′. Angle 100′ has been found to be effective for the presentinvention in from 4-30 degrees, although more preferably from about 4-15degrees. Fabric covering 1 10 is shown as substantially continuous overthe surface of device 100, although some substantial openings or alattice structure may be used to achieve the invention objects. Gas fillstems 111 extend through fabric openings to the inflatable tubesunderneath covering 110.

[0029] The invention objects of the embodiment of FIG. 106 are achievedin part by replacing the tensioning strap of the prior art with atensioning of the fabric outer edge from point 105 to point 106 to point107 to point 108, where generally the prior art instructed the skilledperson to locate a tensioning strap. The use of a minimum V-angle iscritical to the invention embodiment's maintenance of effectivesupportive relationship for a user seated in seat 112. The inflatabletubes are pressured to only about 5 psia to achieve the inventionobjects, a relatively low pressure to achieve such objects. The top viewof the invention embodiment of FIG. 6 and the top view of the prior artV-shaped device of FIG. 1 are substantially in proportion with eachother. It may be seen that the substantial reduction in side profilewith the invention device is achieved without substantial increase infree leg width although the leg 101 length is somewhat increased toprovide generally equivalent gas volume for maintaining the desiredelevation for the user.

[0030]FIG. 7 shows the view and device of FIG. 6 without fabric covering110, which may comprise nylon or other synthetic fiber having aresistance to absorb water into its fibers while having waterpermeability. FIG. 7 shows two nested inflatable tubes, in outside tube114 and an inside tube 115, where tube 115 is substantially protectedfrom laterally applied sharp objects by the tube 114, such that thetypical reeling in of hooks on fishing lines could tend to puncture tube114 and leave tube 115 untouched. Cross section I in FIG. 8 shows thatit is preferable to maintain generally equal cross section area of tubes114 and 115 while in the vertex area 102, cross section II of FIG. 9shows that the cross section area 116 of tube 114 is substantiallysmaller than cross section area 117 of tube 115. It will be rememberedthat it is an object of the invention to provide roughly equivalentfloatation for the user regardless of whether tube 114 or 115 isdeflated. Since tube 115 is nested in tube 114, the increase crosssection 117 is provided to increase the total gas volume in tube 115 tomake it roughly equal to that of tube 114 while at the same timeproviding effective back support for the user, where such effective backsupport is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

[0031] The invention also comprises the concept of dual and roughlyequivalent gas volume inflatable tubes for other shaped devices such asU-shaped tubes having tensioning straps or other shape maintenancemeans, two pontoon device 200 of FIG. 10 or the round float tube of FIG.201. To maintain roughly equal gas volumes in the two tubes of FIG. 11,it may be preferable to form an increased cross section portion of theinside tube of the device of FIG. 201 as in the comparative crosssections 116 and 117 of FIG. 7.

[0032] The invention tubes are preferably supportively joined at a seamalong their lateral and abutting lengths, although such a relationshipcan be achieved with straps surrounding the two tubes 114 and 115. Anexample of the form of the continuous seam is shown in FIG. 12, whereinthe two tubes 114 and 115 are formed from two sheets 122 and 123 ofpolymer or elastomer material, preferably PVC of about 0.030 inchesthickness. Heat sealed or RF welded seal welds 120, 121, 124 and 125 aremade to form two separately inflatable tubes 114 and 115 with a joiningsection 119 between them.

[0033] It is preferable that a zippered access (not shown) be providedin the fabric covering 110 for inserting and removing the deflated tubes114 and 115.

[0034]FIGS. 8 and 9 show a generally triangular space 118 continuousalong the underside of device 100. It is this space that fills withwater during use with the permeance of the fabric covering 110 allowingwater to so fill that space. Once filled, the weight of the water andits inability to instantly drain from the space provides an inertialmass resisting wave and wind action. FIG. 8 shows that agrommet-reinforced hole 126 may be formed at the free end of the legs101 where the water that may accumulate in the space 118 may drainfreely from space 118. Alternately, a continuous sheet of waterproofmaterial may cover at least the bottom portion 127 of the fabriccovering as shown in FIG. 8. The waterproof material may be of neopreneor Hypalon, whereby a superior surface is obtained for punctureresistance and drag to the user's paddle movement of the float devicefrom one location to another.

[0035] Another more general concept of the invention comprises two heldapart sets of two inflatable tubes, where the tubes of the set are held,in flotation operation, substantially horizontal to the water surfaceand side by side abutting each other in both the weighted and unweightedstate. The tube abutment tension means are derived primarily from asheet or web covering of the non-abutting outer surfaces of the tubes asin FIG. 8 or direct tube to tube connection as in FIG. 18. The tensionmeans cause the two tubes of each set to be held together so that whenthe device is used with a person seated between the sets with their headat a desired elevation above the water (the weighted state), thecombination of the effects of the joining means and the tension meanseffectively reduce deflection of the relative axes of the adjacent tubesbetween the weighted and unweighted states so that a relatively lowprofile is maintained. Without such tension, the suspension of a user'sweight between the sets would cause the tubes adjacent to the user to bepulled lower in the water than the more distal tubes of the sets,thereby raising the distal tubes higher than in an unweighted state andraising the above water profile of the device. The flotation volumedistribution is preferably about equal between the two supportivelyadjacent tubes.

[0036] The prior art does not teach or lead the skilled person to use atensioned engagement of the dual tubes of the invention, where thetensioned engagement can be made with fabric covering (even withsubstantial openings), multiple straps, webbing or additional heatsealing or RF welding of adjacent opposing tube surfaces to effect thetensioning. The degree of tensioning should be sufficient so thatinflation of the two tubes above about 2-3 psia results in an inflatedstructure with two tube diameters of about greater than 4 inches, twotube axes that lie in approximately a plane parallel with the water whenthe tubes are in use and having adjacent axes lengths of at least aboutgreater than two feet.

[0037] FIGS. 13-15 show that a common cross section III may be made inthe several float devices disclosed herein as capable of being adaptedto benefit from the invention sets of dual tubes. FIGS. 16 and 17 do notshow the joining means for the held apart sets, as such means aresubstantially different in the devices of FIGS. 13-15, although theeffect of the joining means in combination with the tensioning meansstill results in a relatively low profile float device in the weightedand unweighted states.

[0038]FIGS. 16 and 17 shows two held apart sets of tubes tensioned witha fabric covering as described above. FIG. 16 shows a rigid connector128 connected at connections 129 to covering 110. The weight directionarrow 128′ shows that connector 128 simply depresses the two tube setsequally into the water at the tube-axes width of connector 128. In thisembodiment, the rigid connector becomes part of the joining means thatmaintains the distance of the tube sets apart as in FIG. 14.

[0039]FIG. 17 is a somewhat broader embodiment for suspending a weightbetween the sets of dual tubes, as shown in the suspended seat-typefloat tubes of FIGS. 13 and 15. For such suspension seats, theattachment zone of the seat to the tube sets results in variable torsioneffects on the tube sets. It has been found that the inventiontensioning is sufficient to permit attachment of the suspension seat toany of the radial surface points of the covering 110 without resultingin substantially adverse downward deflection of the inside tubes 115with upward deflection of outside tubes 114. Suspension sling or othermeans 130 and 132 are attached respectively at points 131 and 133 oncovering 110. Means 130 and 132 in the weighted state tend to pullcovering 110 in direction 136 around the general radius of the tubesets, which rotation inducing pull is negated by the appropriate tensionof covering 110 and connection of the tube sets to joining means.Similarly, suspension sling or other means 134 attached at points 135induce in the weighted state a rotation or pull in the direction 140,which rotation inducing pull is negated by the appropriate tension ofcovering 110 and connection of the tube sets to joining means. It isintended that the invention in the weighted state not deflect from waterlevel angle 137 to upward angle 139 or downward angle 138 more thanabout 30 degrees without resulting in an undesirable above waterprofile.

[0040]FIG. 18 shows an embodiment of cross section I where tensioning ofthe adjacent tubes is achieved without a covering, using instead RFwelds or heat sealings 141 at a high and low positions of polymer sheets142 and 143. The suspension seat attachments may be made by way ofstraps encircling the tube sets in appropriate locations.

[0041] While a low profile is desirable for a float device, having aback rest has been of great value in prior art devices. However, theform of such back rests has undesirably raised the profile of the floatdevice. FIG. 19 shows an invention back rest means 300 incorporated intothe invention device 100 by sewn in seam 301 of a fabric shell filledwith filling means 304 as in FIG. 21 to maintain a front aerodynamicface 302 and a back rest 303 for the user (shown in broken outline inFIG. 19). Seam 301 is preferably a continuous attachment of the fabricshell of means 300 to covering 110. Filling means 304 comprises manydifferent materials from synthetic foam to user equipment accessed witha zipper (not shown). It is preferable to provide that zippered accessbe provided in the fabric shell for the user to insert and /or removefilling means for improving back rest support or for collapsing to storeor carry the deflated device 100. The user is thus provided with backrest 303 while obtaining a device 100 having substantially reduced windresistance over face 302.

[0042] The above design options will sometimes present the skilleddesigner with considerable and wide ranges from which to chooseappropriate apparatus and method modifications for the above examples.However, the objects of the present invention will still be obtained bythat skilled designer applying such design options in an appropriatemanner.

I claim:
 1. An inflatable float device adapted to support upright abovewater at least the upper torso of a person while their legs are immersedtherein comprising: (a) at least two inflatable tubes adapted to bemaintained, in an inflated state, in a side by side relationship suchthat a first tube forms an outer edge of the V-shape, a second tubeforms an inner edge of the V-shape, and the total side to side width ofthe tubes in at least a legs part of the V-shape is greater than theside view height of that legs part; and (b) a flexible sheet or netcovering stretched around the tubes is adapted to, in the inflated stateof the device, maintain the leg parts in substantially a V-shape againstside to side deflection in the plane of the V-shape.
 2. The device ofclaim 1 wherein along at least a portion of a contact surface betweenthe tubes such adjacent tubes are integrally and effectively connectedto resist relative movement of the adjacent tubes.
 3. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the tubes are inflated to less than 5 psig.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein the tubes are inflated to less than 3 psig. 5.The device of claim 1 wherein the second tube in a vertex part of theV-shape has a side view height substantially greater than that theheight of the adjacent tube in that vertex part.
 6. The device of claim1 wherein leg parts of the V-shape have substantially the same lengthmeasured from the vertex part.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein the legparts' length is two feet or more.
 8. The device of claim 6 wherein theleg parts' length is three feet or more.
 9. The device of claim 1wherein the side to side width is less than about three feet.
 10. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein the adaptation to support the person comprisesa seat supportively connected at opposite ends to at least the legs partof the V-shape.
 11. The device of claim 1 wherein the covering comprisesone or more of the group of webbed or latticed flexible material, porouswoven material, non-porous woven material, and non-porous polymersheets.
 12. The device of claim 11 wherein the covering comprises atleast a webbed or latticed material along at least an underside part ofthe covering such that water will easily drain from a cavity formedbetween the tubes and the covering when the device is in the inflatedstate.
 13. The device of claim 1 wherein separate means for user accessto inflate and deflate the tubes is located on an upper part of thedevice.
 14. An inflatable float device comprising: (a) at least twoinflatable tubes adapted to be maintained, in an inflated state, in aside by side relationship such that a first tube forms an outer edge ofa V-shape, an I-shape or an O-shape, a second tube forms an inner edgeof those shapes, and the total side to side width of the tubes in atleast a major part of the shapes is greater than the side view height ofthat major part; and (b) a flexible sheet or net covering stretchedaround the tubes is adapted to, in the inflated state of the device,maintain the major parts in substantially its original shape againstside to side deflection in the major part.
 15. The device of claim 14wherein along at least a portion of a contact surface between the tubessuch adjacent tubes are integrally and effectively connected to resistrelative movement of the adjacent tubes.
 16. The device of claim 14wherein the second tube in a vertex part of the V-shape has a side viewheight substantially greater than that the height of the adjacent tubein that vertex part.
 17. The device of claim 14 wherein the coveringcomprises one or more of the group of webbed or latticed flexiblematerial, porous woven material, non-porous woven material, andnon-porous polymer sheets.
 18. The device of claim 17 wherein thecovering comprises at least a webbed or latticed material along at leastan underside part of the covering such that water will easily drain froma cavity formed between the tubes and the covering when the device is inthe inflated state.
 19. The device of claim 14 wherein the coveringcomprises one or more of the group of webbed or latticed flexiblematerial, porous woven material, non-porous woven material, andnon-porous polymer sheets.
 20. The device of claim 14 wherein twoI-shaped devices are held apart in the plane of their side to sideorientation by means of one or more rigid supports.